Locking coupler



Oct. 27, 1953 J. J. FUNK LOCKING COUPLER Filed Jan. 27, 1953 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

J0)??? Jfa 72% Oct. 27, 1,953 J. J. FUNK 2,657,073

LOCKING COUPLER Filed Jan. 27, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE-5. L

Oct. 27, 1953 J, FUNK 2,657,073 T LOCKING COUPLER Filed Jan. 27, 1953 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOfiIZ $1 2272 ,4 I at; M4 I kw Patented Oct.27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 27, 1953,Serial No. 333,571 6 Claims. (Cl. 284-17) This invention relates to acoupling device for establishing communications through a conduit, andmore particularly, couplers wherein a nozzle is inserted in a socketmember and the nozzle itself opens a bailie in the socket member.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved couplingdevice wherein the socket member can only be opened by a speciallydesigned and fitted nozzle. This prevents accidental connections whereinonly one particular type or grade of liquid is to be admitted into aconduit to a tank or the like. The coupling has varied uses such as thesupply line to a gasoline tank of a service station, the supply lines totanks of ink in printing establishments, connections to chemical storagetanks and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coupling devicewherein the nozzleitself serves as a key which may be inserted into thesocket member and turned to open a shutter or baffle in the socketmember, and then inserted further and locked in connected position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking device for thebaffie which is automatically unlocked by the nozzle before itmoves thebaflle from closed position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve in thenozzle member which is automatically opened when the nozzle is fullyinserted into the socket member.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, in Whichp a Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional viewof a nozzle member which serves with the socketmember to provide alocking coupling; I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the socket member; Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryplan view, showing the baflle in l'oc ked position; i I i Fig. 4 is afragmentary vertical sectional view. taken as indicated at line 4-4 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, taken as indicated at line 5-5 ofFig. 9, but showing the coupling in connected open position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the lower end of thenozzle locked to the socket member; A

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the nozzlefully insertedbut before being turned to the locked position shpwnin Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but taken in locked position, asindicated at line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a plan sectional view, taken as indicated at line 9-9 of Fig.5;

Fig. 10 is a plan sectional view, taken as indicated at line Ill-l0 ofFig. 5, showing the nozzle fully inserted and the baflie turned to openposition; a a

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary taken as indicated at line Il--l| of Fig. 4;and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan sectional view. taken as indicated at line12-42 of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment illustrated, the nozzle member shown in Fig. 1 has acylindrical tube H provided with a lateral opening Ha which is nor--mally closed by a tubular sleeve IS. The sleeve I5 is urged to closedposition by a compression spring 16 provided in a crown member l1 whichhas a laterally extending tubular arm l8 in alignment with the opening I4a. A flexible hose, not shown, may be connected to the arm ll. Thesleeve member 115 is shown provided with a slot 19 en gaged by a setscrew 20, so as to limit its travel in the tube IA. The lower end of thetube H is shown provided with an outwardly extending lug 2!, which; ifdesired, may be notched like an ordinary key so as to fit certain socketmembers.

The socket member comprises a main frame 22, which in the embodimentillustrated has an upper and lower plate held in spaced relation bymeans of screws 23. A sleeve portion 24 is secured by screws 25 to abridge-like member 26 which is bolted to the upper plate of the mainframe 22 by means of screws 21. The sleeve member has an opening of thesame diameter as the outer diameter of the nozzle tube It and has a slot28 to admit the lug 2|. a

A rotary sleeve 29 is journaled in the upper plate of the frame member22, and has an opening in alignment with the opening in the fixed sleeveportion 24. The rotary sleeve 29 has a slot 30 toreoeive the lug 2| onthe'nozzle, and is in alignment with the slot 28 when, the device is inthe locked position shown in Fig. 4.

The lower plate of the frame 22 is provided with a lower fixed sleeveportion 3| which is fixed in position by machine screws 32. This lowerfixed sleeve. 3| also has a slot 3m to receive the nozzle lug 2| andconnects with a lateral slot 33, so that when the nozzle is fullyinserted in the socket member, it may be turned from the position shownin Fig. 7 to that of 5, 6 and 8, and the lug 2! will hold the nozzledown in that position. J

As bestshown in Fig. 4. the member}! is provided'with alflxed, upwardly.extending sleeve 34 which is spaced from the inner wall 01' the member3| and is adapted to extend up into the sleeve 14 of the nozzle memberand push the sleeve valve plan sectional View,

l5 up into the position shown in Fig. 5 to open communication throughthe nozzle member.

In order that the socket member will automatically be closed and lockedwhenever the nozzle is detached, a baffle member 35 is fixed to a shaft36 by means of collar members 31.

The shaft 35' is journaled in the plates of the frame 22 and is providedat its upper end with a mutilated operating gear 38. The rotary sleeve23 is also provided with a mutilated gear having teeth to engage theteeth on the gear 38 and turn the bafile member 35 from its closedposition shown in Fig. 3 to its open position shown in Fig. 10.

The frame '22 has a stop member 39 which limits the oscillation of therotary sleeve 29 by engagement with teeth 4!} and 4|, as shown in Fig.9.

In order to prevent the baffle 35 from being opened by anything but theproper fitting nozzle member, a special locking device is provided. Asbest shown in Fig. 10, one end of the baflie 35 is provided with a notch42 which is adapted to be engaged by a bolt 43 slidably mounted in aguide member 44 secured to the frame 22'by means of machine screws 45. Aring 46 is secured to the under side of the upper plate of the frame 22by means of screws 4! and this plate also has'a notch 48 to receive theend of the bolt 43 when it is thrown to locked position. The plate alsohas a notch 43a which is in alignment with the slot in the lower sleevemember 3| so that after the nozzle has turned the bafiie 35 to openposition, it will be aligned for full insertion into the socket member.

The bolt 43 is operated automatically by the rotary sleeve 29. A pivotstud 49 extends upwardly through a slot 50 in the frame 22 and isconnected to a stud 5! on the rotary sleeve by means of 'a' link 52. Themutilated gears afiord a lostmotion connection so that in the beginningof the movement, in a counterclockwise' direction,

as viewed in Fig. 2, the first action is to have the link 52 withdrawthe bolt 43 from the slots 42 and 43, and then as the teeth on themutilated gears come into contact, the baiile is thrown to the positionshown in Fig. 10, against a stop 53. Movement in a counterclockwise.direction, to close the baffle, is limited by the baflie engaging thestop 54, as shown in Fig. 3. Of course, when the rotary'sleeve is turnedin a clockwise direction'from the position shown in Fig. 9, the bolt 43is moved outwardly and then back into the locking position shown in Fig.4.

A Operation p tated in a' counterclockwise direction =until stopped bythe tooth 40 engaging the stop 39.

In this movement the bolt 43 is first withdrawn and then the baiileisturned to the position shownin Fig. 10. This movement will bring thelug into alignment with the slot provided in the lower ifixed sleeveportion, and as the nozzle is pressed downwardly, the sleeve I5 in thenozzle will slide upwardly and open communication through the nozzle andsocket member. The nozzle may then be given a slight clockwise movementwhich will cause the nozzle to be locked. in the position shown in Fig.5.

To withdraw the nozzle, the first counterclockwise movement moves thelug 2| to a position where it may be withdrawn upwardly until the lug isin the rotary sleeve. A clockwise rotation will then send the baiile toclosed position, throw the bolt into locking position, and align the lugwith the slot in the upper fixed sleeve member so that the nozzle may bewithdrawn and the openings in both the nozzle and socket member willautomatically be closed.

It will be understood that'the device may be modified in a number ofways without departing from the spirit of the invention. The lockingdevice and bafiie may be operated by cams rather than mutilated gearsand links, and castings can be used for'the frame and fixed sleevemembers. The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, andno unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled inthe art.

Iclaim:

l. A coupling device for establishing communication through a conduit;comprising: a cylindrical nozzle adapted to be secured to a flexiblehose line, said nozzle being provided near its free end with anoutwardly extending lug; and a socket member having an upper fixedsleeve portion with a slot to receive the end of said nozzle,

a rotary sleeve having a slotted opening beneath and in alignment withsaid fixed sleeveportion, a movable baiiie beneath and forming a closurefol-said rotary sleeve portion, means on the rotary sleeve for movingthe baffle from closed position when said sleeve is turned by thenozzle, and a lower fixed sleeve portion with a slot to receive the endof said nozzle when the nozzle has been turned to open the bafiie.

2. A coupling device as specified in claim 1,

bolt is provided to lock the baflie in closed posi-,

tion, a link connects the bolt to the rotary sleeve, and a lost-motionconnection is provided between said sleeve and baffle for automaticallywithdrawing the bolt before turning the bafile.

5. A device as specified in claim 4, in which stops are provided on therotary sleeve to limit its oscillation in both directions. 7

6. A coupling device as specified in claim 1, in which the nozzle has alateral opening, a slidable sleeve closure is provided in said nozzlecontrolling, communication through said opening, a spring is providedvfor urging said slidable sleeve to closed position, and an upwardlyextending member is provided in the lower sleeve portion No referencescited.

